Case with best mix of design and drop protection

[taylord22]

This is my first iPhone and I'm looking for a case high in design with decent drop protection. I don't see a point in buying a case for the sole purpose of preventing scratches.

My wife had a Speck candy shell that looked great and offered (to my surprise) incredible drop protection. Just curious what everyone's experiences are within the criteria?

(I'm leaning toward a Speck Satin, but I'm concerned that my audiophile headphones won't fit...even though they're a straight pin)

 

[cfairbank]

I have used the incipio NGP on both my 4 and 4s and it has protected my iPhone from many s falls. Using the incipio frequency now since its the same TPU material has the NGP. Will switch to NGP once it's available.